The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Health Research Program (HaRP) was initiated in 2003 by the Office of Health, Infectious Disease, and Nutrition (HIDN). It is designed to accelerate the development, introduction and translation of research products into effective implementation by USAID and partner country health programs. Learn more about HaRP.

Activities are guided by the Pathway from Research to Field Implementation and Use Framework, which outlines a USAID-managed process that is analogous to the value chain the private sector uses for moving research products into use. This framework strategy is based around four key components:

Development - Applied research to create tools, technologies, approaches and interventions

Introduction - Catalytic activities, including health services research and implementation research, as well as other activities to facilitate research translation, adoption and uptake of intervention and/or product

Field Implementation - Country-level program/policy rollout/diffusion into routine use

Resources

Report to Congress: Health-Related Research and Development Activities at USAID - December 2013 [PDF, 853KB]
“With strong support from the U.S. Presidential Administration and Congress, USAID is
looking to science and technology to bring new solutions to existing challenges as the
Agency continues to apply novel technical tools to diminish barriers and build partnerships to advance health around the world. These efforts help to discover the most
efficient and sustainable means to ensure healthy, productive populations in developing
countries, which are aligned with U.S. goals to end extreme poverty and promote peace
and prosperity worldwide. The fulllment of these goals will improve security at home
and enhance markets for U.S. businesses abroad.”

Global Research Activity Final Project Report [PDF, 1.6MB]
The Global Research Activity, funded by USAID and managed under HaRP, sought to advance the health status of infants, children, mothers, and families in the areas of maternal and neonatal health, micronutrients and dietary interventions, acute respiratory infections (ARI), and tuberculosis (TB) and other infectious diseases through a comprehensive but focused research agenda on key nutrition and health care service interventions.

About 40 percent of under-5 deaths occur within the first month of life, and some 70 percent occur within the first year of life.

The leading direct causes of newborn deaths are infections, complications from prematurity, and asphyxia.

Undernutrition affects nearly 200 million children worldwide and contributes to more than 3.5 million child deaths each year.

Nearly half of all preschool-aged children and over 40 percent of all pregnant women are anemic. Anemia contributes to 20 percent of all maternal deaths.

HaRP is dedicated to conducting applied research that identifies, tests, and evaluates new technologies and interventions in seven targeted areas to ultimately reduce maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity in developing countries and countries in transition.